Drug Testing Welfare Recipients (Part 2)

The topic of the day is Drug Test. The drug testing in the United States Welfare System to be exact. Stereotypically, you would think that young minorities would cause an uproar about the mere thought of drug testing welfare recipients. This is the far from the case. Many educated minorities feel as though since many jobs require drug testing then people receiving public assistance should meet the same requirements. This opinion may be drawn from personal experience or may just of simple ideas of equality. Although I have been thinking of this issue for a while as I wanted to do my terminal research on the subject of requirements for public housing. This is attempt for drug testing in public and mixed income housing units in Chicago, Illinois and the lawsuits behind the situation. This subject is not far at all from that topic and truly is connected in the assumption that if you receive public assistance then you have a drug problem or are incredibly lazy. This article today was inspired by an Instagram post. The particular post although I have seen it before was posted by someone a follow who goes by the user name is @just_hannah__. This student from Harris Stowe State University made a good argument in the exchange that we had stating in one post, “…if you need a drug test to work they should be able to do the same thing for welfare. They take taxes out of our checks to pay for sec. 8, welfare etc. I would like to know that my hard earned money is being put to use the way it should be. And not given to drug dealer down the street.” Thanks Hannah.

Now time for my opinion which I have and will argue to professors with doctorates to the people I grew up with in the town. The issue I have with the drug testing in multifaceted. My first issue is that why make it hard for people to receive aid? Given, there are people that are taking advantage of the system and we all have seen it. But who is to say what percentage of people are taking advantage? There are people that are trying their hardest to make it and this assistance makes up the difference. I do not feel it is okay that this assistance should be put in jeopardy because the head of household enjoys a blunt once and a while. This may something that some people disagree with but for those with the “taxpayers have to pay them” argument… I have a question. Do people that are working at McDonald’s paying taxes? Sure they are. Jobs just as the illustrious Mickey D and Walmart have been reported to suggest to their employees to apply for public assistance.

I feel as if when people see any form of government aid, they think of this typical 30 year old woman that has 3 to 4 bad ass kids that collects checks, smokes, drinks and fucks everyone in the neighborhood. I can understand they argument but at the same time I kind of have an issue with the people from neighborhoods that may have grown up in those types of neighborhoods that act as if they don’t understand that they may the most vocal of recipients but not they are not truly the majority. My father had 4 boys in the house for most times. We had food stamps and were receiving aid from the state due to the fact that our mothers situation wasn’t the best (this may not be full welfare but worth the argument). Well I am not sure of my brothers situation so I will speak for myself and say that I received funding because I was a Ward of the Court. My daddy did everything he could to raise 4 men and that little 200-300 dollars made it that much easier on him. They are plenty of people that depend on certain benefits of the government whether it be child care, food stamps or whatever. To give drug testing for these benefits may not be a solvent to any problem at all. 

It is easy to state that things shouldn’t be when they don’t affect you. It is easy to be against gay marriage when you’re not gay and in love. It’s easy to say that public schools don’t need more funding even when they are not performing up to par when you’re not in the school with run down and hand me down books and no programs. When you’re not a kid that has a main priority of surviving rather than being in school. It is easily to tell a felony to keep his clean when you have never had to feed a family on $7.25. It’s easy to tell a single mom to go to school, work and stay off the weed when you’ve never had that experience in that environment. I feel that we have become so critical of others as some of us have improved on our situations and tend to look down on others. I know plenty of black professional that speak badly on their family but never acknowledge the fact that some of those people have sacrificed to get them in the position that they are in. I know personally that my family may not be the best and we may have some ratchet problem but I also know that they made sure I was good before anyone even myself know I was leaving Oakland. From fights to bomb advice. People have to acknowledge that everyone’s situation is not the same. I feel to restrict someone from that most basic necessity (food) because of their personal vices is wrong. It shows me that people don’t want to be helpful unless you do what they what you to do and live how they see fit. I understand there are people taken advantage of the system but drug testing just doesn’t solve the issue of hunger.  Federal aid is one of main factors that separate: developing counties (ie: Brazil), developed counties (ie: USA) and 3^rd world counties (ie: Haiti). I understand that some self-sufficiency initiatives can be taken to help alleviate the stress in the government and tax payers.

Q. Young
Urban Echelon Magazine and Blogspot